News: Byron Jones to stay or go, Cowboys comp pick scenarios

Also, Jerry Jones wants to “make a splash” at the 2020 Draft, Dez Bryant wants to come “home,” and a look at college’s top wide receivers.

Byron Jones was a hot topic on Thursday. One outlet is imploring the Cowboys to re-sign him, while another says it’s time to let him go. A radio guy out West thinks he knows where Jones will wind up, and a draft expert makes a guess on what Dallas will do to fill the void Jones leaves behind.

Meanwhile, two of Jones’s defensive back mates just got hefty raises, DeMarcus Lawrence ranks toward the top of his class even without sacks, and Dez Bryant’s touchdown stats make a case for him coming “home.” All that, plus looking ahead to the draft with wide receivers, backup quarterbacks, and punters. That’s right: punters. We’re hitting all the News and Notes this time out.


NFL free agency: 9 guys who MUST be re-signed by current team :: NFL.com

Two members of the Cowboys make this list of free agents who must be retained. One of them is obvious: quarterback Dak Prescott. The other one, surprisingly, isn’t wide receiver Amari Cooper. Instead, it’s cornerback Byron Jones. It has felt for quite some time that Jones wouldn’t be returning to Dallas, as the team has its hands full with contracts coming due.

Adam Schein posits that Jones should be a higher priority than Cooper, though opinions differ widely there. The Cowboys offense has been a different animal with a true No. 1 receiver in the fold; finding someone to fill his shoes seems a difficult ask.

–TT


Cowboys free agents most likely to depart: Byron Jones is talented, but Dallas has other roster needs to address :: Dallas Morning News

On the other side of the Jones coin is this argument from Calvin Watkins, who says the numbers simply don’t add up in a way that keeps him in the silver and blue. Yes, Jones was the team’s best corner in 2019, missed only one tackle all season, and often forced opposing passers to look elsewhere with their throws.  But with zero interceptions logged, the $12 million average salary, or more, Jones will likely command is just too much buck for not nearly enough bang.

–TB


2021 Compensatory Draft Picks: 14 Cowboys most likely to qualify :: CowboysWire

In a few weeks’ time, Dallas will officially be awarded a fifth-round compensatory pick for losing Cole Beasley in 2019 free agency. Meanwhile, Dallas’ group of 25 unrestricted free agents means that there will be an abundance of opportunities to earn extra picks in the 2021 draft, if they play their cards right.

This is a look at how comp picks are awarded, how teams can play the game based on when they sign qualifying free agents, and a breakdown of the 14 Cowboys prospects who should qualify for the formula, and a prediction on what salaries they will see in free agency, hence what round draft pick they’d be worth.

–KD


Rumor Mill: Broncos poised to make Cowboys’ CB Byron Jones ‘top target’ in free agency :: Mile High Huddle

So where might Jones wind up? There’s buzz that the Broncos could be among the active suitors courting the former first-round pick. According to a tweet from tapped-in Denver radio host Cecil Lammey, “There have been rumblings since the Senior Bowl” that Jones could be a “top target” for Vic Fangio’s staff. Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr. is potentially on the outs in Denver, making a young talent like Jones a valuable asset for GM John Elway to consider pursuing.

–TB


Tony Pauline Mailbag: Are the Dallas Cowboys planning ‘a big splash’ in the NFL Draft? :: ProFootballNetwork

And if Jones does depart, where do the Cowboys turn at cornerback? Tony Pauline has a theory. He says team owner Jerry Jones “wants to make a big splash in the draft,” according to one team insider. Trading up from the 17th pick to select Ohio State corner Jeffrey Okudah- the highest-rated defensive player not named Chase Young- would certainly qualify.

With Byron Jones perhaps already packing his bags and former Cowboys corner Morris Claiborne now wearing a Super Bowl ring that he earned with the Chiefs, the Dallas brass may feel the time is right to shore up the CB spot in a big way.

–TB


The NFL’s top 10 DEs entering 2020: Where does Cowboys’ DeMarcus Lawrence rank among the best? :: Dallas Morning News

Spoiler alert: Lawrence is, in fact, among the best in the business at edge rusher. But he doesn’t place as high as Cowboys fans would like, especially after signing a record contract last offseason.

In Lawrence’s case, though, sacks (or a lack thereof in 2019) don’t tell the whole story. His run-stop percentage, pressures despite a high double-team rate, and elite scores in ESPN’s Pass Rush Win Rate metric- all while coming off a major shoulder surgery- prove that Lawrence not only deserves his top-10 status… but could easily surpass it in 2020.

–TB


Defensive backs Xavier Woods and Jourdan Lewis will receive raises :: CowboysWire

Thanks to the proven-performance escalator available to players drafted in the third through seventh rounds, Woods and Lewis will earn an extra $1.5 million (or so) in 2020, according to Todd Archer. The big-time bump comes after both players logged more than 35 percent of the snaps on average in their first three seasons.

As per Over The Cap, Woods made $645,000 last year; Lewis earned $675,000. Both will see their take-home jump to $2.14 million next season.

–TB


2020 NFL Draft Digest No. 3: Incredible wide receiver group could reinforce Cowboys offense :: The Athletic

Just three wide receivers averaged one catch per game for the Cowboys in 2019. Reliable depth at the position, then, is a legitimate concern. And with Amari Cooper and Randall Cobb currently out of contract, it’s no stretch to think that, depending on how things unfold, Dallas could be looking long and hard at bringing in a rookie target for Dak Prescott, maybe even in the first round.

Bob Sturm breaks down Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy, Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, TCU’s Jalen Reagor, Alabama’s Henry Ruggs, and Colorado’s Laviska Shenault. Of that bunch, the top grade ultimately goes to the “scary” player who plays with “lots of nitro” and managed to put up All-American credentials with a different quarterback in each of his three seasons. (That theoretically means he’d excel out of the blocks with Prescott and then somehow get even better as their chemistry develops.)

–TB


Dez Bryant misses scoring TDs, will he get chance to flash again ? :: Cowboys Wire

“That’s home,” Dez Bryant told Fox 4’s Mike Doocy this week when asked about his wish of a return to the Dallas Cowboys. “I miss scoring touchdowns.”

The numbers indicate that Bryant has been among the best at it over the past decade. His TD-catch rate from inside the 20-yard-line is seventh among all players over that span, and among players with 100 red zone targets, he ranks third. Of the top 11 pass-catchers listed, Bryant is the only wide receiver; the rest are tight ends. He has been positively lethal… but will the Cowboys offer him the chance at a killer comeback?

–TB


The Dallas Cowboys backup quarterback position needs to be addressed :: The Landry Hat

A Dak Prescott holdout over his contract situation would immediately thrust his understudy into the spotlight. But even with Prescott locked in on the payroll, the backup QB is always one nasty hit away from suddenly being The Guy. (Dallas and Prescott know this all too well.)

So, Cowboys Nation, how are you feeling about Cooper Rush taking the reins? The team signed Northwestern alum Clayton Thorson to a reserve/futures contract, but Angel Torres suggests that Dallas might be well served to look to another proven SEC passer to be Prescott’s reliever. Georgia’s Jake Fromm is no stranger to big games; he led the Bulldogs to a Rose Bowl, two Sugar Bowls, and a National Championship in three college seasons.

–TB


Five college punters to know in the 2020 NFL draft class :: Blogging the Boys

Don’t laugh; the punt game is suddenly a sore spot for the Cowboys after Chris Jones finished dead last in the league in yards per punt in 2019. With John Fassel now on the staff in Dallas, there’s bound to be turnover among the specialists. And while there are always journeyman legs to be found before camp, the team may choose to utilize a late-round draft pick on a talented collegiate.

On this list of field-flippers is a punter who set an NCAA record in 2019 for most yards per punt in a game (five or more attempts). He averaged 63 yards per punt in that game; three of his five punts were in the 60-yard neighborhood, and one traveled a whopping 75 yards.

–TB


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McCarthy’s First Stand: How Cowboys HC will handle Lee, Bryant, Witten

Mike McCarthy’s arrival in Dallas may alter how the Cowboys deal with Dez Bryant, Jason Witten or Sean Lee’s return to the team.

There’s a new era of Dallas Cowboys football coming in 2020. For the past 10 seasons, it was all about the right kind of guys (RKGs) under former head coach Jason Garrett. If Garrett liked a player, there was little doubt about his status with the team. Garrett was loyal, sometimes to a fault, to players he believed in.

The hiring of Mike McCarthy signaled a different direction for the Cowboys. McCarthy will build the team with the players who have the traits he admires. Garrett had his guys, Bill Parcells had his favorites, and McCarthy will have his. With Dallas having a high number of free agents heading into this offseason fans are about to find out what type of players McCarthy values.

Given the recent amount of news regarding possible Cowboys reunions, it feels like McCarthy’s opportunity to stamp the Cowboys with his vision.

Linebacker Sean Lee is the latest Cowboys veteran to express his interest in continuing to play.

Add Lee to a list that includes WR Dez Bryant, who hasn’t played with the Cowboys in two years, and TE Jason Witten, who still wants to play. None of these three players are under contract with the Cowboys and none have ties to McCarthy.

Under Garrett, there has been little resistance in bringing these veterans back. Witten returned to the team after retiring to the announcing booth and Sean Lee slashed his pay in order to stay with the Cowboys in 2019 with Garrett at the helm. Bryant never got back to Dallas after they unceremoniously released him in 2018, but that hasn’t stopped him from making his plea to Cowboys VP of Player Personnel Stephen Jones.

However, there’s a new sheriff in town and there is nothing that ties McCarthy to any of these players. The sentimentality and loyalty that may have existed under Garrett is no longer present with McCarthy.

The Cowboys are thin at linebacker and could use another red zone target or two for QB Dak Prescott, but that doesn’t mean Bryant, Witten or Lee play for Dallas in 2020. It might have been a different story if Garrett were still the coach.

Times have changed for the Cowboys, and we’ll find out just how much with how McCarthy handles the possible return of three of their biggest stars of the last decade. The outcome is less certain in 2020 than it might have been in the past.

You can chat with or follow Ben on twitter @BenGrimaldi

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News: Dez Bryant works out at Star, Jourdan Lewis switching numbers

The Cowboys are tops in home attendance, no rest for defensive linemen, the one trade Dallas needs most, and a new number for Jourdan Lewis.

Despite a disappointing season, the Cowboys are well-represented in a couple of best-of lists from the 2019 campaign, in terms of both players and the fans that come watch them at home. But the focus has already turned to 2020, most notably for the new coaching staff and fans trying to peg their tendencies early. One player is even shedding 2019’s bad mojo by donning a new number next season.

All that, plus forecasting the one big trade that could put Dallas over the hump, guessing where one Cowboys receiver will be playing, and wondering if another will be coming back. Here’s the News and Notes.

The top 101 players from the 2019 NFL season :: Pro Football Focus

By not being one of the twelve teams to make the 2019 postseason, the Cowboys were not in the top 37.5% of the NFL, at least according to pure mathematics. But math also says nearly five percent of the league’s best players suit up in Dallas blue and silver.

Pro Football Focus has released its list of the top 101 players from the 2019 campaign, and the Cowboys are represented by a quintet of stars. Offensive line is still considered the team’s strong suit, as guard Zack Martin ranks 35th and tackle La’el Collins misses the top 40 by one spot. DeMarcus Lawrence is the only Dallas defensive player on the countdown, at 55. Wideout Amari Cooper comes in at 64, and quarterback Dak Prescott sits at 93.


Cowboys lead 2019 attendance rankings :: @SNFonNBC (Twitter)

America’s Team, indeed. The Cowboys led the league in average home attendance over the 2019 season, putting 12,000 more butts in seats than the second-place team.


Jim Tomsula & the Cowboys’ DL rotation :: The Mothership

Great in-the-building insight from David Helman as he explores how the new defensive line coach in Dallas intends to move his chess pieces around on the field. While the personnel is obviously in flux this early in the offseason, Jim Tomsula implies that DeMarcus Lawrence and Co. should plan on fewer breathers.

Helman points out that under Rod Marinelli, Lawrence and Robert Quinn “played 65% and 68% of the defensive snaps, respectively, ceding the field to backups in key situations.”

“The goal is to have as many guys as you can playing and go. But if there’s a dropoff, then we’ve got problems,” the former 49ers staffer says of his philosophy. “That crew in San Francisco, the first couple years, there was no rotation. I told them, ‘If you tap your helmet, I’m turning my head.'”


Eagles, Bills among potential landing spots for Amari Cooper :: NFL.com

First things first. No, Cowboys fans did NOT miss the announcement of a total breakdown in talks between the team and its leading receiver, Amari Cooper. So when former pro quarterback and current network analyst David Carr puts out a list of the teams the free agent could eventually sign with, take solace in the Cowboys’ place atop the pile. Carr even admits that, “From a pure football standpoint, Cooper being in Dallas makes the most sense.”

But that headline doesn’t exactly generate a lot of clicks. So Carr theorizes about four other teams who would obviously love to swoop in and lure Cooper away if the Joneses decide to get overly thrifty with the Pro Bowler after just a season and a half.


Dez Bryant works out in Frisco, lobbies for situational role :: @DezBryant (Twitter)

Former Cowboys wideout Dez Bryant continues to tantalize fans with thoughts of a return to Dallas. On Thursday, he tweeted his willingness to not be his next team’s top option at receiver.

Then Bryant posted some practice videos… that just happened to take place at the Star in Frisco.

Training with wide receiver coach David Robinson, Bryant can be seen running routes, hauling in passes, and throwing up the X for the camera as his 2020 comeback bid continues.


2020 Draft: Identifying college spigots Mike McCarthy, Mike Nolan tap most :: Cowboys Wire

Certain franchises sometimes seem to draft from a particular school over and over. It’s hard to not believe that Jason Garrett’s staff had a stronger-than-average affinity for Boise State guys, given the number of Broncos on the roster over the years. But do new head coach Mike McCarthy and new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan have any notable go-tos when it comes to plucking college kids for the pros?

Maybe. While the list of schools they’ve most often drawn from closely mirrors the overall makeup of the league in regard to alma maters, history shows that Golden Domers may have a slight statistical edge when the 2020 Cowboys are on the clock. And fans coveting a certain safety from LSU may find some small bit of encouragement in how many Bayou Bengals McCarthy and Nolan have drafted.


The ideal offseason trade scenario for every NFL team :: Bleacher Report

Every team wants to believe they are just one roster move away from a championship. In that spirit, Brent Sobleski examines each NFL roster and theorizes the one best trade each franchise could make this offseason- either to acquire or ship off a single player- that gets them closer.

Granting the ultimate wish of many a Cowboys fan, he suggests the Cowboys trade for Jets safety Jamal Adams. While that deal fell apart in 2019 and Adams now hints that he’ll stay put in New York, it’s still possible that the Joneses pony up to bring Adams back to his native Texas and that he wears the star in 2020. Sobleski muses that it would cost the Cowboys a first- and a third-round draft pick.


Jourdan Lewis changing jersey number :: The Mothership

When the new-look Cowboys defense takes the field in 2020, cornerback Jourdan Lewis will have a new look, too.

The team website notes that No. 26 became available when safety Josh Jones was released near the end of the 2019 season.


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DeMarcus Lawrence talks possible Dez Bryant return, autograph snubs & more

Dallas Cowboys defensive end sits down with Bleacher Report Gridiron and participates in a “Q & A” with fans.

The Dallas Cowboys have always had their cast of outlandish and outspoken characters over the course of their 60-year history. From legends and Hall of Famers like quarterback Roger Staubach, running backs Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith, cornerback Deion Sanders and wide receiver Michael Irvin. The Cowboys have never had a shortage of players who wanted the spotlight, attention, and overall demanding of respect from the fans and media.

It’s now 2020 and the Cowboys have two-time Pro Bowl defensive end, DeMarcus Lawrence. With the Cowboys finishing 8-8 and largely underachieving, he has not stopped answering all of the questions he’s been asked. In an interview with Bleacher Report Gridiron, Lawrence welcomed a Q & A with fans in which none of them held back when it came to the choice of topics.

The gloves came off early from the fans. A New York Giants fan in particular asked about the situation that occurred outside of AT&T Stadium involving a young Giants fan asking for his autograph. “The reason why I did the fella like that … first off I really didn’t see him,  but saw he had the wrong jersey on. It really wasn’t any harm to him. I just treated the kid like I treat anyone else. I was walking pretty fast! No autographs for anyone that day,” Lawrence answered as he tried to finally clear the air.

Another question regarding something that has been heavily debated recently was the question of, who should be labeled as the real “Hot Boyz”? It has become a Twitter war between members of the Dallas Cowboys defense and the NFC Champion, San Francisco 49ers defense.

One would assume all in good fun but it seemed like Lawrence was very passionate about this brand.  Lawrence recently has went on record to call the 49ers frauds. He went on to explain a little more as to why he felt this way.

“Cause they don’t have no identity behind it. Reason we came up with Hotboyz was because of brotherhood. People can recognize us as the Hot Boyz from what we do on the field and off the field but swag like that, it’s gonna be cocky so I’m not surprised.”

Something Lawrence did not shy away from was his thoughts on a possible return to Dallas for free agent wide receiver Dez Bryant.

Bryant has surfaced back in Cowboys-related news in recent weeks when he made clear that he wants to be given a chance to rejoin the team in 2020. Or, according to the tweet a few weeks back, the Cowboys, Saints or Ravens.

When Lawrence was asked about a possible reunion between Bryant and the Cowboys, he made it quite clear that it would be welcomed. “If 88, the X factor, wants a shot we gotta give him a shot. Cowboys are home to Dez and he’s always accepted in my book.” In a follow up question of who he would like the Cowboys to add to the teams roster next season, once again, Lawrence sided with Bryant, “I’d say bring Dez Bryant back. 88 is always welcome here.”

He then decided to have some fun with a another Giants fan when he was asked about New York’s future. “Well, my guy, only thing I can say is as long as my career prolongs I don’t think it’s looking good for the Giants.”

One fan put Lawrence on the spot when he was asked who the best quarterback in the NFL was, past and present. Without hesitation, “Present day: Dak Prescott, Past: Dak Prescott.” That has to warm the heart of Prescott as he himself awaits his new long term deal with the team.

Lawrence has always been good for this team. Not just from a statistical standpoint but as an individual who has verbally and physically battled for all of his teammates. In any win or loss, Lawrence has never been short for words or comments. Even in his shorter phrases, or one word answers, they have always left an impact with the media and his colleges. Last year, as Cowboys fans know, Lawrence signed a five-year, $105 million dollar contract. This should give current Dallas players and potential 2020 new additions some comfort that they have a guy like him in the locker room.

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Should Ravens have any interest in signing Dez Bryant?

The former Cowboys wide receiver has hinted that he’d like to play for the Ravens. Should they have any interest in signing him?

Wide receiver Dez Bryant hasn’t played in the NFL since he was released by the Dallas Cowboys following the 2017 season. He had the proverbial cup of coffee with the New Orleans Saints in 2018, tearing his Achilles tendon during his second day with the team. Since then, all has been silent.

But Bryant hasn’t given up on an NFL return. On Twitter, he identified three “dream” teams he’d like to play for, and the Baltimore Ravens were among them.

Bryant clearly finds the prospect of playing with the presumptive league MVP, quarterback Lamar Jackson, an attractive one, as many wide receivers around the NFL should.

Bryant would bring a great pedigree with him. Between 2010 and 2017, Bryant amassed 7,460 receiving yards, which was the seventh-most in the NFL. He also had a well-developed nose for the end zone. Bryant’s 73 touchdowns in the span mentioned trailed only Rob Gronkowski.

Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

The Ravens could certainly stand to upgrade their wide receiver corps ahead of the 2020 season. Rookie Marquise Brown (46 receptions for 584 yards) was the only wide receiver with more than 31 receptions and 500 yards last season. Baltimore’s wideouts were targeted 181 times, the lowest of any NFL team.

However just because the team needs a wide receiver does not mean it should sign Bryant. After all, this is a player who has been out of the league for two years, and he wasn’t exactly at the peak of his powers during his last days in Dallas.

In 2017 he offered practically nothing after the catch, with only 31% of his 839 yards coming that way. Bryant was also far from sure-handed, dropping 9% of his catchable targets. The Ravens have more than enough players to drop passes on the roster already — the AFC divisional-round loss to the Titans showed that. Plus, in an impassioned plea to the Cowboys, Bryant offered to come in and run the routes that 37-year-old tight end Jason Witten ran last season. If Bryant is offering his services as a tight end, then the Ravens’ interest should end there. Tight end is an area they are fairly set at with Hayden Hurst and Mark Andrews still on rookie contracts and with Nick Boyle signing a three-year extension last year.

There are quite a few other free agent options set to be available this offseason if the Ravens feel the need to add a veteran to the lineup. Of course, the 2020 draft class is considered to have one of the deepest wide receiver groups in recent memory. We should not forget Miles Boykin, who fits a similar role Bryant would be looking for. Boykin will be heading into his second season in 2020 and showed flashes in 2019 in limited opportunities.

There are a host of opportunities for the Ravens to get younger and better at wide receiver. Bryant definitely would not help them get younger, and I’m not sure he’d help them get better, even if they’re a dream destination for him at this stage in his career.

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Dez Bryant says joining Ravens are one of his dream goals

After previously turning down the Baltimore Ravens, wide receiver Dez Bryant says they’re one of three dream teams he’d like to play for.

 

The Baltimore Ravens enter the 2020 offseason with a few major needs. While not at the top of their priority list, Baltimore needs a sure-handed possession receiver on the outside to compliment all the speed they have. One player tossed his hat into the ring already: Dez Bryant

Bryant posted on Twitter that one of his dream goals is to don the black and purple uniforms of the Ravens.

Bryant would certainly fit the build of guys Baltimore likes, but he hasn’t played since 2017 when he was last with the Dallas Cowboys. Still, Bryant is a proven commodity, catching 531 passes for 7,459 yards and 73 touchdowns over eight seasons in Dallas.

In fact, the Ravens tried to woo Bryant to sign with them in 2018, only to be spurned by him at the time. When Twitter users reminded Bryant that not only did he not sign with Baltimore but later said he didn’t regret the decision, he was quick to say he wasn’t in the right state of mind at the time.

With coach John Harbaugh telling reporters the Ravens were looking for two pretty specific types of wide receivers this offseason, it might open the door to Bryant getting another offer. Though it seems unlikely Bryant would get near the same offer as before, if Baltimore is a dream location, he might be willing to take a minimum salary to play with the Ravens.

Time will tell if Baltimore actually shows any interest in Bryant or if they’re not very eager to work with a guy that previously turned them down.

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News: Vick thinks McCarthy will be boon for Prescott, more coaching hires

The Dallas Cowboys are nearing the completion of their 2020 coaching staff, as on Friday two more names were added to the ledger. Both names are familiar, but for different reasons, as one formerly worked with the Cowboys and the other having that …

The Dallas Cowboys are nearing the completion of their 2020 coaching staff, as on Friday two more names were added to the ledger.  Both names are familiar, but for different reasons, as one formerly worked with the Cowboys and the other having that all-too-familiar-NFL hiring practice of a familial ring to it.

Elsewhere, offseason talent acquisition continues to move more front and center, as a one of the well-known draft prognosticators weighs in on who the Cowboys should select in April’s draft, and a keen talent evaluator identifies a handful of lesser known names for Dallas to target in free agency. Finally, one of the league’s best playmakers, Michael Vick, weighs in on what he thinks new head coach Mike McCarthy will bring to Dak Prescott’s game. All this in today’s edition of News and Notes.


2020 Mock Draft 1.0: Mel Kiper’s Early first-round mock draft :: ESPN 

In Mel Kiper, Jr’s lastest mock draft the Cowboys snatched cornerback CJ Henderson out of the University of Florida.

Henderson was a two-time second-team All-SEC performer (2017, 2018) as well as receiving a first-team All-SEC nod in 2019. At 6-foot-1 and 202 pounds, he has the prototypical size one wants in a corner and has very good ball skills with six career interceptions and 20 pass break-ups.


Film room: 3 under-the-radar free agents the Cowboys should target :: Dallas Morning News

John Owning checks in with his latest film analysis installment, this time checking in on some lesser known entities who could join Dallas this offsesaon as free agents.

His focus has a definitive defensive feel to it, as he highlights two defensive tackles and a safety, Jayron Kearse.

Standing at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Kearse is a giant safety who does his best work in and around the box. Kearse’s size makes him a mismatch whenever blocked by a wide receiver, which enables him to be extremely effective in run support. He’s a reliable tackler (just four career missed tackles, per PFF) and possesses the quickness to knife into the backfield to make splash plays behind the line of scrimmage.

Check out what else he has to say as well as his two line targets.


Michael Vick believes Mike McCarthy may be ‘one of the best things’ to happen to Dak Prescott :: DMN

The former Atlanta Falcons quarterback likes the Cowboys’ hire  and believes McCarthy could work wonders for Prescott. During Pro Bowl practice on Thursday, Vick had this to say regarding this recent marriage between coach and signal-caller.

“I think Dak is solid, man,” Vick said Thursday. “I love what Dak is doing. I think to have a new coach come in the building right now is probably one of the best things that could happen to him, especially getting Mike McCarthy.

“He’s an offensive genius, an offensive guru who knows the game and he will help Dak out tremendously, and the Cowboys will look different next year.”


Sports Sturm’s Friday Cowboys mailbag: Byron Jones’s future, DeMarcus Lawrence’s present, and draft talk :: The Athletic

Bob Sturm over at The Athletic hits a ton of topics as he answers reader questions. In case you don’t have a subscription, here are some highlights:

Despite his lack of interceptions, Byron Jones may continue to be a better option for the Cowboys than 2020’s draftable options. A 3-year/$42 million deal (like the one Marcus Peters got) may be a price worth paying for Jones’s skills.

Staying in the secondary, keep an eye on University of Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr. in case the Cowboys don’t land the coveted Grant Delpit out of LSU.

Don’t get suckered looking at sack totals in a vacuum and deducing that DeMarcus Lawrence is no better than Taco Charlton. The Cowboys need more sacks out of Lawrence in 2020, to be sure, but saying the two players are comparable because both logged five sacks in 2019 is just naive.

–TB


Ranking 30 Cowboys free agent decisions in 2020 :: Cowboys Wire

Plenty of personnel decisions to be made by the new coaching staff in Dallas over the next weeks and months. Cowboys Wire helpfully lists all 30 free agents and orders them for Mike McCarthy, from the lowest priority to it’s-Dak-freaking-Prescott-quit-screwing-around-and-sign-him.

–TB


Amari Cooper ‘not surprised’ by sweeping coaching changes, wants back in Dallas :: Cowboys Wire

It’s not always obvious by the solemn look that’s normally on his face, but wide receiver Amari Cooper is loving it in Dallas, and he wants to stay.

The four-time Pro Bowler spoke about the prospect of free agency this week at the league’s all-star festivities in Orlando. “I’m just taking it day by day, ” Cooper said. “I’m not anxious, I’m not apprehensive. I’m just living life.”

The Alabama product says that an extra $1 million or $2 million in his next contract isn’t as important to him as being in the right environment. Mike McCarthy will be Cooper’s fourth head coach in a six-year career; maybe he’ll also prove to furnish “the right environment” for a sixth championship in Dallas.

–TB


Ex-Cowboys WR Dez Bryant hints at 3 ‘dream’ NFL teams he’d like to sign with :: Bleacher Report

Dez Bryant’s job hunt continues to play out on social media. After the former Cowboys receiver took to Twitter early in the week to pitch his return to Dallas, Bryant followed up on Thursday with a post subtly calling out two other organizations he’d enjoy suiting up for. Both are teams he has history with.

It’s assumed that the “black and gold” refers to the New Orleans Saints. Bryant signed with the Saints during the 2018 season, but tore an Achilles tendon before playing in a single game with the club. The “black and purple” must mean the Baltimore Ravens. Prior to his two-day stint with New Orleans, Bryant had reportedly received an offer from the Ravens, which he turned down… just before quarterback Lamar Jackson exploded on the scene in Baltimore.

–TB


From ‘Seeing ghosts’ to ‘Mozart’s paintings’: These are the best quotes of the NFL season :: ESPN

It was a season of soundbites in the NFL. Press conferences, in-game field-mic captures, and off-the-cuff zingers provided fans with a wealth of one-liners and countless must-hear moments throughout the 2019 campaign.

Among the gems in this compilation are two Cowboys quotes. First, Jerry Jones’s “Zeke Who?” quip that was hilarious at first, then maybe not funny at all, and finally ended up on an official T-shirt in the team pro shop.

Dak Prescott makes the list, too, for reminding teammates that spicy chicken nuggets had indeed returned to the Wendy’s menu… while in the huddle against Miami in Week 3.

–TB


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Jamal Adams wouldn’t mind sharing the field with Dez Bryant

Jamal Adams is interested in taking the field with former Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant.

Jamal Adams is interested in teaming up with wide receiver Dez Bryant.

The Jets safety made that known Monday after the former Cowboys wide receiver tweeted that he’d entertain the idea of a reunion with Dallas and could have a role similar to the one Jason Witten had last season. Bryant also said that he wants to play with Ezekiel Elliot, Tony Pollard, Michael Gallup, Randall Cobb and Blake Jarwin.

Adams took notice of Bryant’s tweet and responded by saying that he’d “take the field with [Bryant] in a heartbeat.”

Clearly, Adams has an affection for Bryant’s style. However, there are some concerns with Bryant. He tore his achilles in November 2018 in a practice with the Saints and has yet to take the field since then.

Once a true No. 1 wideout, Bryant is not the same player he once was with the Cowboys. He hasn’t had a 1,000-yard season or at least 10 touchdown catches since 2014.

While the Jets do need a No. 1 receiver, Bryant is not that guy anymore at age 31. The Jets also have to lock up one of their own receivers in Robby Anderson before looking externally. New York can add a young and cheaper receiver in the draft, too.

It wouldn’t hurt the Jets to sign Bryant as a depth piece similar to what Demaryius Thomas was in 2019, but Adams shouldn’t hold his breath waiting for a chance to team up in New York.

Dez Bryant lobbies for return to Cowboys in ‘role they gave Witten’

The former Dallas wideout wants to return to the team under new coach Mike McCarthy, and he’s taking to social media to make his case.

There are suddenly lots of new faces around The Star in Frisco and just as the recent coaching churn quiets down, it will be time for free agency. More new faces. Then the draft. More new faces. Suffice it to say that when the 2020 season finally rolls around, this Cowboys team will look drastically different. But there’s one familiar face out there hoping he can be one of the “new guys” for Year One of the McCarthy era.

Dez Bryant wants to throw up the X in Dallas again.

The three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver is currently a free agent, having been let go by the Cowboys in 2018 after eight seasons. Nine weeks into the 2019 campaign, he signed with the New Orleans Saints, only to rupture his Achilles tendon during his second practice session with the team. He’s spent the time since rehabbing with an eye toward making an NFL return, and now with Jason Garrett out as Cowboys coach, Bryant is lobbying hard to make a return to Dallas.

Bryant’s tweet on Sunday certainly raised a few eyebrows and started the wheels turning for more than a few fans, including Ezekiel Elliott’s mom.

Also chiming in was Jets safety Jamal Adams. Many believed the Cowboys should have traded for Adams prior to 2019’s deal deadline. They tried, but were unsuccessful. Some feel that the team should make another run at him during this offseason, as the position remains a weakness. The league’s top safety- a Texas native himself who has made no bones about the attractiveness of playing in Dallas- tantalized fans with the notion of being teammates with Bryant, presumably (though not explicitly) while wearing a Cowboys uniform.

It’s a fun idea to noodle over, even if it’s far-fetched.

If you’re going to really “think about it,” as Bryant suggests, the first thing to consider is what Bryant actually meant by “the role they gave Witten.”

Sign Bryant to play tight end? Bryant has always been athletic and has kept himself in fighting shape, according to the workout videos he posts often on social media.

But to think that Mike McCarthy, in the midst of the countless changes he’s already bringing to the Cowboys, is going to sign a 31-year-old wide receiver with a repaired Achilles, 750-plus days since his last NFL reception- and redesign the entire offense just to line him up at tight end- borders on absurd.

Could Bryant play tight end? Maybe technically. But Bryant last measured in at 6-foot-2, 220 pounds. Jason Witten is 6-foot-6 and weighs 263. Blake Jarwin is 6-foot-5, 260. The numbers don’t add up; Bryant isn’t the next Cowboys tight end.

But was Dez referring to something else when he mentioned Witten’s role?

In his first season back after a one-year retirement, Witten was expected to take fewer snaps on the field. Or that’s how it was sold, with the theory that he would serve largely as a mentor to the promising backup Jarwin, subbing in to provide multiple looks and giving defenses another weapon to worry about in key situations.

Witten ended up being on the field for 75 percent of Dallas’s offensive snaps, compared to just 38 percent for Jarwin. So that role sort never played out in real life, due in part to Witten’s competitive nature that no doubt made it hard for him to stay on the sideline, but also in part because of Garrett’s long relationship and loyalty to the future Hall of Famer.

For his part, the 11-time Pro Bowler hasn’t ruled out coming back for a 17th NFL season, and he hasn’t said it would have to be as a Cowboy. With Garrett gone, Witten’s spot on the Dallas roster isn’t cemented. And were he to return, his normal amount of playing time isn’t guaranteed. As Bryant said, “no shot at Witten,” but the 37-year-old is no longer producing as an elite tight end. Most weeks, truth be told, he didn’t even look like the best tight end on the Cowboys.

All of that is to suggest that Bryant offering his discounted services as what 2019 Witten was supposed to be: a motivator in the locker room, an example on the practice field, and a veteran leader on the sideline… who also takes a handful of snaps and provides a legitimate threat in a few creative personnel packages alongside the other players he listed in his tweet… well, that idea has some merit.

But whether the team would welcome him back is another matter.

Bryant was typically vocal as he left Dallas. While he has deep affection for owner Jerry Jones, he was less than complementary of players like Sean Lee, who still commands respect with most guys on the roster. And after the kid-gloves treatment that the front office gave to Garrett throughout their amicable divorce, inviting his loudest critic back for a second tour of duty in the building may prove to be more headache than help.

Ultimately, it will be McCarthy who almost assuredly has the only say. While Bryant and McCarthy were on opposing ends of one of the most infamous plays in Cowboys history, there’s no indication that the new coach would be eager for a reunion.

“I said after the game, ‘That was one hell of an athletic play.’ I was impressed,” McCarthy said of Bryant’s goal-line grab in 2015’s NFC Divisional Round against the Packers. “It was a great catch, I can say now. But it wasn’t then, technically.”

Dez caught it in 2015. But that doesn’t mean he’ll catch the break he’s looking for as he pleads for a 2020 return to the Cowboys.

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With McCarthy officially in, Garrett era ends to mixed reactions from players

Several Dallas Cowboys who played wither with or for Jason Garrett reacted to news that he had been let go by the team Sunday night.

On Wednesday, Jerry Jones ushered in a new era of Cowboys head coaching, introducing Mike McCarthy as the ninth leader in Dallas franchise history. During the press conference, he referenced his reverence for the man leaving the post, Jason Garrett, and how found he was of the man and his family.

Jones noted that since he’s owned the team, starting in 1989, there’s only been two seasons where a Garrett wasn’t under his employ, starting with John Garrett, a long-time member of the scouting department and then with Jason’s playing career. Jones hasn’t been the only one waxing poetic about Garrett’s tenure ending, as his players – past and present – chimed in as well.

Word came down during the NFC Wild Card game- the one Dallas had hoped to be playing in- that the Cowboys had officially moved on from Garrett. After nine and a half roller-coaster seasons and one supremely bizarre week, the man in charge on the sidelines was no longer with the team.

In the hours that followed, many of the men who played for and with him were quick to share their support, gratitude, and- in some cases- other general reaction to the news.

Defensive tackle Antwaun Woods wasn’t able to stick on the roster in Tennessee, but found a home in Dallas under Garrett’s watch. He has seen action in 25 games over his two seasons as a Cowboy.

Fifth-year journeyman Justin March bounced around from Kansas City to Miami to Seattle before landing on the Cowboys linebacker corps early in the 2017 season. Garrett often praised players who showed “relentless spirit;” March reflected on that same quality in his former coach on Sunday night.

Special teams assistant Phillip Tanner spent time under Garrett as a running back and special teams player from 2011 through the 2013 season. In 2019, Garrett welcomed him back to Dallas, naming Tanner to the coaching staff as a special teams assistant.

Garrett’s release wasn’t a surprise, of course. Some players were asked about the seemingly-inevitable change in the moments that immediately followed the Week 17 game against Washington that ended their 8-8 season.

“It’s going to be hard,” running back Ezekiel Elliott told reporters on December 29. “Change is always hard. But we have a great group of men in this locker room. Not too worried. We’ve got a lot of vets, a lot of great players. I think we’ll be all right.”

Even though Elliott’s remarks reinforce the notion that the writing had been on the wall in Dallas for some time, it took another full week for ownership to officially sever ties with Garrett. Whether that seven-day standoff was more about owner Jerry Jones doing some true soul searching or just masterful news-cycle manipulating is up for debate.

Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman worked closely with Garrett during his playing days in Dallas and still considers him a friend. In the matter of how Garrett’s release was handled by his ex-employer during a week that started with vague speculation and mixed messages about showing Garrett “respect” yet ended with new coaching candidates being interviewed while Garrett was still in the building, Aikman sided with his former backup.

“He committed everything he had to the organization and to doing the best job that he could,” Aikman said of Garrett in an interview with Mike Doocy of Fox 4 in Dallas. “He made it a priority, and he committed himself. Breakups are always hard- we all understand that, at whatever level they occur- but I don’t know that after all that he gave and committed to this organization, that he received the same in return. When the organization was unwilling for whatever reasons- and I don’t know the backstories to it all- but when the organization was unwilling to come out publicly and say that, ‘We are seeking a new coach,’ and yet at the same time, reports are coming out that they’re interviewing potential new candidates for the head coaching position, that’s disappointing. I think, in a lot of ways, it shines a light on some of the dysfunction, if you will, within the organization and kind of how they got to the point that they’re in now.”

Former NFL lineman Uche Nwaneri had a similarly bold take on the culture in Dallas, as laid out in a Reddit thread in which he blasts the “alternate universe” that Garrett helped the front office sell to players “in which the Cowboys were defending Super Bowl champs.”

Not everyone connected to Garrett during his time with the franchise was sympathetic to how his tenure finally ended. Wideout Dez Bryant has been a vocal critic of the 53-year-old coach ever since he was released by the Cowboys in 2018 after eight seasons.

Bryant and Garrett had a tumultuous relationship, so his comments are not exactly surprising. How prescient he is about the Cowboys automatically becoming “real contenders” simply by breaking up with Jason Garrett remains to be seen.

That onus now falls on McCarthy to take the baton and get the franchise across the finish line.

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